Have used loads of travel insurances.

Sainsburys platinum paid out a 26k (gbp) claim. Took me 73 emails and a lot of work.

Last year I fell and broke my back.

The cost was 3k in hospital and 4k lost flights and accommodations, virgin didn't pay out. Reason was that prior to leaving the UK my doctor put me on presidonal tablets. Virgin claimed that the pills made bones brittle and no amount of arguing would change their minds.

So.... I can't speak for all insurers but sainsburys platinum and insure and go pay out and Virgin became difficult.

Seems to be a 3k limit. Hospitals have told us that having 2 insurances is helpful for them as they can spread the cost.

Worth pointing out at this point that if the claimant had been drinking over the last few days, this is a problem and they were even querying what my wife has to drink at Christmas when her admission was end January.

@Dave ******

I do that all the time. Ams, cdg and fco are best. We just snagged 2 x business class Cathay Pacific, Amsterdam to Bangkok rtn 1800 euros each.

Before you leave UK, keep all documents in a file, ready to submit. Include your flights to Spain but 'forget' to submit an important document. File on the day of your flight to Spain. It will take about a week for them to email asking for the important document, stall for 3 more days and file on Friday afternoon.

It will take at least another week before they issue visa and you have bought more time. But they will want to see flights to Thailand and an onward flight.

You can book the Spain to Bangkok ticket and cancel within 24 hours for a full refund but it's usually a sweet spot booking 12 weeks in advance anyway.

Also from UK, in and out for last 20 years (including COVID) never ever been asked. But always have 20,000 just in case.

Got stopped last year....what's in that bag?.... cheese I replied... Very good he responded with a smile.

They are not out to get you, quite the opposite. They just ask for respect and politeness when entering the kingdom and speaking to officials. Normal.

It is a visa run I am afraid. But do check as I believe it's January 1 that they bring in same sex marriage laws. It's been approved by new government....check it up, Bangkok post usually. I will have a look for you. But I know it's very soon. This year they allowed us on valentine's day. It was a special but now it's going to be law that same sex can marry in Thailand and will be recognized as such.

We had the same issue in the UK And my mates are also having the same. So ... Now send an email with all your details to the email they send you. Head it URGENT. I did this too late because after I did that the visa only took 3 more working days. You still have time . It can even arrive when you are airbound so make sure you log in before immigration. Failing that, you are in my position. I will extend my 30 days and then leave the country. Instead of seeing it as the headache it really is, we have decided to make a trip to Malaysia and have a few days there. At first we were going to do a day return but that would just be arguments as I am blamed by her indoors for not applying in time

I applied only 15 days before travel which was stupid but I had an unfortunate illness prior to that and ended up in bed sick for a week so I delayed it.

Lesson everyone, try and apply a month before if you can.

Good luck Sabrina. I think mostly the reason they say no pets is often down to the dogs already around. My landlady has to say no pets because we all have them, meaning there are a few Thai dogs marauding the complex. Thai dogs can be bullies. You do need to take care of your own health and make decisions based on hospitals and your insurance. Some of the islands are not suitable. Even on phangan it can mean a trip to samui (cash needed for ambulance $1000, refunded by your insurance maybe). But they want it in cash and I couldn't get it back without a receipt which they kept saying yes yes... Blood transfusion took 24 hours for blood to arrive so not always available.

Good luck, don't let life deter you but you will need to plan ahead

@Bob *******

yeah I will get 30 and if lucky, they may take pity... But they are always telling me off lol and I needed 60 + 30. Should have done the 50+ but only had 35k in UK bank and they need 40k as I am part of a same sex couple. So depends when they change the law. It has been agreed in principle as far as I know but not yet in the royal gazette....

Do on PC but maybe it's not dropping in because it needs resizing. Keep trying as they are taking time. Our visa took 23 days... Lesson learned as we had to come in on visa exempt and have to leave and come back in again now. We made a mistake by not attaching our flight from UK to ams. We just sent the Amsterdam to Bangkok return as there was no other box. Apparently we should have photographed all tickets together and sent them together. This time it was worse than the Thai pass during COVID.

We bring it in a cool box every year. Last year they asked what was in the box. I said cheese for my Thai friends, they love it.

Customs officer put his thumb up and said 'you good friend'.... As someone already pointed out they don't like live plants so you need a phytosanitary certificate from defra and also plant passports for all of them. However, yet again,you are allowed 4 without the certificates. I took roses in for my mates and again when asked they let it through without asking for my phytos.

The cheese is poor and expensive in Thailand. Can't get anything decent. But make sure it's double sealed and beware of the wax truckles as they melt and stain your clothes. I got an electric car cool box from temu and it's fits inside your bag. Soon as I get in the taxi, it's plugged in.